The Department of Defense, specifically the United States Air Force, is seeking proposals for the SBIR topic titled "RAPTURE – Radio frequency Passive Technology for Ubiquitous Research and Engineering." The objective of this initiative is to conduct systems engineering, concept exploration, and evaluation of passive Radio Frequency (RF) geolocation technologies that can enhance situational awareness in contested environments, including space. This effort is crucial for developing advanced sensing capabilities that require minimal active transmissions, thereby providing a strategic advantage in military operations. Interested parties must submit their proposals by June 25, 2025, with the opportunity to transition to Phase II for further development and testing of prototypes. For more details, visit the official solicitation page at [SBIR.gov](https://www.sbir.gov/topics/12042).

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Space Technology; Trusted AI and Autonomy; Integrated Sensing and Cyber The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: This topic seeks to perform systems engineering, concept exploration, analysis, modeling and simulation, test, and evaluation of passive Radio Frequency (RF) geolocation. DESCRIPTION: The Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Multispectral Sensing and Detection Division is developing technologies to provide survivable, adaptive, passive, situational awareness for contested, highly contested, and anti-access environments, to include the space domain. The importance of timely, accurate, and relevant sensing capabilities is paramount to ensure the success of critical warfighter operations. Often, these operations require sensing capabilities that have minimal or no active transmissions to maintain a strategic and/or tactical advantage, thereby elevating the need for passive sensing systems. The Multispectral Sensing and Detection Division is exploring passive sensing systems and operations across a wide range of systems, from the Air Forces’ newest manned platforms, un-manned collaborative systems, and space-based systems. The focus of this effort is to investigate a common baseline for passive geolocation that can be applied across platforms such as high-end systems with sophisticated architectures and processor intensive approaches to a subset of the capability to size, weight and power (SWaP) limited platforms seen in small satellite applications. That is, sophisticated techniques may reside on large space platforms (where the system bus is of 10kw and greater) to small cube satellites that may only consist of a few watts. This focus directly supports the SECAF’s Operational Imperative #4 (Tactical Air Dominance) and Operational Imperative #6 (Global Strike) by supporting the geolocation of RF signals of objects of interest. An area of interest is how the Government can take advantage of commercial capabilities without taking sole ownership or creating a unique aspect that is Government only, thereby driving up life cycle cost. Another aspect of interest to the Government is the ability to influence designs early on so that if there are unique Department of Defense (DoD) requirements, they can be incorporated into the commercial product enabling a dual-use aspect. The goal of this effort is to investigate concepts for passive RF geolocation to determine technical feasibility and risk, programmatic costs, and schedule. The information, test, and evaluation (T&E) under this effort will be used to influence and guide passive RF geolocation efforts. This topic is intended to reach companies capable of completing a feasibility study and prototype validated concepts under accelerated Phase I and II type schedules. This topic is aimed at later stage research and development efforts rather than “front-end” or basic research/research and development. The main deliverables will be modeling and simulation (M&S), T&E of concepts that advance the viability and utility of innovative passive RF geolocation systems that support the reshaping, refocus, and re-optimization of the Air and Space Force Departments to deter and prevail in an era of Great Power Competition (GPC). PHASE I: This topic is intended for technology proven ready to move directly into Phase II. Therefore, a Phase I award is not required. The offeror is required to provide detail and documentation in the Direct to Phase II proposal which demonstrates accomplishment of a “Phase I-like” effort, including a feasibility study and extensive M&S results. These efforts will include M&S, simulation of prototype concepts, cost benefit analysis, system-of-systems studies, experimentation and evaluation of operational imperatives to enable future concepts. Prototypes, M&S and experimentation should explore a wide range of integrating commercial capabilities to support the operational imperatives. This includes determining, insofar as possible, the scientific and technical merit and feasibility of ideas appearing to have commercial potential. It must have validated the product-market fit between the proposed solution and a potential AF stakeholder. The offeror should have defined a clear, immediately actionable plan with the proposed solution and the AF customer. Relevant areas of demonstrated experience and success include: M&S, cost benefit analysis, risk analysis, concept development, concept demonstration and concept evaluation, laboratory experimentation and field testing. Phase I type efforts should include the assessment of emerging operational imperatives and how they show a measurable value and operational impact. The result of Phase I type efforts is to assess and demonstrate whether commercial systems can support the furtherance of the operational imperatives. PHASE II: Eligibility for a Direct to Phase Two (D2P2) is predicated on the offeror having performed a “Phase I-like” effort predominantly separate from the SBIR/STTR Programs. These efforts will include M&S, simulation of prototype concepts, cost benefit analysis, system-of-systems studies, experimentation and evaluation of operational imperatives to enable future concepts. Prototypes, M&S and experimentation should explore a wide range of integrating commercial capabilities to support the operational imperatives. These capabilities should consider areas that are unique to military operations, logistics, mission planning, mission execution, base sustainment and logistics. A goal is for Phase II efforts to conduct sub-scale experiments and provide test articles for further test and demonstration. Experiments should address military-unique requirements that may not be otherwise met by commercial capabilities. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Phase III shall include upgrades to the analysis, M&S, T&E results and provide mature prototypes of system concepts. Phase III shall provide a business plan and address the ability to transition technology and system concepts to commercial applications. The adapted non-Defense commercial solutions shall provide expanded mission capability for a broad range of potential Governmental and civilian users and alternate mission applications. Integration and other technical support to operational users may be required. REFERENCES: 1. T. Spitzer, J. Hallett, “Doppler Estimation for Passive RF Sensing Methods in Space Domain Awareness”, 2020 Military Communications and Information Systems Conference, (MilCIS), 2020. 2. S. Abulgasem, F. Tubbal, R Raad, P. Theoharis, S. Lu, S. Iranmanesh, “Antenna Designs for CubeSats”, IEEE Access (Vol 9), mar 2021. KEYWORDS: Passive RF Sensing; Modeling and Sim; Air and Space Systems

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